BENEE reflects on being in the public eye on single ‘Animal’
BENEE has been busy this year, opening for big names such as Wallows and Olivia Rodrigo. On top of that, she’s been working on her sophomore album, releasing the third single, “Animal” this week. What I love about BENEE is how addicting her mix of vivid indie and hyper-pop is. Her work is seeped in bright neons; not only in her aesthetics, but her sound.
“Animal” brings a unique perspective to a topic that isn’t spoken about much in music: The juxtaposition between being in the public eye, but also being a “micro-celebrity,” in her words. The crushing pressure of being under a microscope, but at the same time, not being considered a massive celebrity. People still pick you apart, your every word and appearance, but in the grand scheme of celebrity-dom, it’s minor.
“Wake up, line up, can't stop / Too much pressure, might get squashed / Think I'm special but I'm not / The grind, get mine, I'm tryin' / In this tunnel, I get lost / 'Cause I'm tiny like a dot.”
BENEE combines a very trivial subject with pop-laced catchiness that covers up the severity of the subject matter in an artful way, something similar to her last single, “Sad Boiii".” Her lyricism is clever and witty, again weaving her own personality in with vocal intonation and fun adlibs. The music video is in her signature style of lively colors and expressive clothing which brings a very on-brand visual to an already exciting track. Animal” shows her awareness of the ruthless industry she’s a part of while still leaving her audience with the satisfying taste of a new song.
